altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
God bless you sir. It's as if Jeff Boomhauer were an Illin fan!
Pregame: Illinois at Michigan, Saturday, November 19th, 11:00am CT, ABC
- Status
The keys of the game are simple
1 Do our O line and D line show up
2 can we contain a mobile QB
3 Can we play smart football
If we can do all three we win otherwise I need to check my beer supply
1 Do our O line and D line show up
2 can we contain a mobile QB
3 Can we play smart football
If we can do all three we win otherwise I need to check my beer supply
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
Sounds like you need to check your beer supply no matter what then.
Not just Illinois but Big Ten and college football in general. Anything is possible, especially if they mentally write us off.
Maryland, and Iowa hung with them for the better part of the game. Does that mean anything? Yes. If we play smart hard nosed football like we did against Wisconsin, we got a chance. Anything can happen. Do I believe that we will win? Heart says yes. Head says no. Still, it would be nice to ruin their aspirations for the playoffs.
I like your thought process, but Illini have a pretty lengthy history losing games they should lose too. Two weeks ago, I thought they had a shot. And if they can get back to playing like that they still do. Just not so sure they can recapture that. But I’ll be watching, hoping and cheering for a big win.
Parking in yards the best option. Zingerman’s Roadhouse will be crowded but worth the time. Black Pearl and Sava’s also good choices, but make a reservation. Ditto Paesano, a personal favorite. (Our son did his Ph.D. In A2, so we spent a fair amount of time there - including at the Big House.)
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
I'm influenced by two things this week:
1. Depth; our injuries are really mounting
2. I was at the Purdue game and they were physically much bigger/stronger than our guys on both sides of the ball. I expect the same in Ann Arbor.
42 Mich
20 ILL
Michigan covers
1. Depth; our injuries are really mounting
2. I was at the Purdue game and they were physically much bigger/stronger than our guys on both sides of the ball. I expect the same in Ann Arbor.
42 Mich
20 ILL
Michigan covers
illini80
- Forgottonia
I’ll be happy if we play solid fundamental football and come out healthy. The low football IQ we’ve shown the last two games is especially worriesome. Once you lose your discipline it can be tough to get back. BB said something in his press conference about players trying to make all-pro NFL plays instead of just doing their job. Actually he said being the best version of themselves, but we all get the point. Guys getting out of position and trying to make a great play against a physical and highly disciplined team like Michigan is a recipe for disaster. I hope we can cover the spread. If we do that, recover our sharp mindset, and move on to Northwestern with a chance to still have a special season, I’ll be feeling good.
I'd be okay with the result 60 years later in 1999 as well. Michigan was favored by 24 1/2 points, and we'd just lost to MN at home 37-7.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
We 100% do, but I am guessing the poster was referring to the BB Era so far ... in which case, that certainly is what it felt like as a fan last year:
- Beat Nebraska as a pleasant surprise to start 2021 ... proceed to lose four straight, including a stinker to UTSA at home.
- Shock #7 Penn State in Happy Valley ... followed be a completely uninspiring loss to Rutgers at home.
- Beat a ranked Minnesota team in Minneapolis ... choke away the game in Iowa City (though this would have been an upset and we played well overall).
This year has been a bit more like 2011, as scared as that makes me to say ... we looked to be in a "dreamlike" positive scenario after winning in Lincoln, and we proceeded to lost two games that we just simply would have won without silly mistakes and/or if we showed up with the same defensive focus as earlier in the season. Now, I think losing in Ann Arbor and beating Northwestern to finish 8-4 obviously makes that a MUCH better season than the 2011 epic collapse, but this team has not been inconsistent ... it was consistently great until the last two games, which makes it kind of harder to take, IMO.
The good news from a "getting out of our funk" perspective, IMO, is that we are playing with house money and nothing to lose this weekend. If we can't win in Ann Arbor, our Big Ten West hopes are effectively dead anyway, and we shouldn't be worrying about that. If we can? Our season does a complete 180 once again. Go give it our all and play without fear!
I don’t think he was just referring to just BB era since he wrote “lengthy history.”
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Fair enough. Either way, looking at it from more of a casual perspective and not really as a statistical analysis, Illinois football has scored some out-of-left-field upsets over the years, and it seems like every time we are about to "turn the corner" and get that big win to finally "make it," we trip at the finish line. So, I get what he was saying, even if the TRUE story is simply that we have lost a lot more games than we have won, lol.
MSU was a trap game against a team from a superior division. We dropped too many passes against Purdue.
is there anything going on with the return of the defensive coordinator? i have a bad feeling.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
This sort of volatility is why we love college football. And hate it when we're on the opposite end.
I’ve been to the big house twice. Rocky Harvey and juice Williams torching records. I’m departing Champaign at 2 am Saturday morning and I expect to remain undefeated. This one is especially tough because my beautiful daughter is a sophomore at UMich and this date has been circled for two years. I’m wearing my Ann Arbor is a !!!!! shirt under my Michigan dad shirt. Either way I’m leaving Ann Arbor proud. But you all don’t know how hard it is to be a life long Illini fan, and an alum, and still love Michigan… adulting is hard
Yeah, volatility is such a great description. Anything can happen, and often does! Fat tail risk.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
With Illinois dropping the last two games, I expect Michigan to be slightly looking forward to the battle at the Horseshoe, compared to a sharper focus if Illinois came in at 9-1 or 8-2. For that reason alone, I think Michigan will probably look a bit sluggish early on. I think Illinois will take a lead in the first half, possibly into the half. The 2nd half is where Michigan will get rolling; however, the more Illinois can keep them off their game, the bigger the scare.
My prediction is that this game will be a one score win for Michigan. If Illinois plays a near perfect game like they did in 2007 @ the Horseshoe, then Illini have a shot, but that will require cleaning up the poor execution and penalties that plagued the team the last two weeks. The major question will be if the Illini can create any pressure with the defensive front. If so, then Illinois really has a shot. We also really need the officials to allow the secondary to be physical. If we have a crew like last week, then it could get ugly fast.
In any event, I want the Illini squad to bring better execution that we have seen the last two weeks, even if it ends in a loss.
My prediction is that this game will be a one score win for Michigan. If Illinois plays a near perfect game like they did in 2007 @ the Horseshoe, then Illini have a shot, but that will require cleaning up the poor execution and penalties that plagued the team the last two weeks. The major question will be if the Illini can create any pressure with the defensive front. If so, then Illinois really has a shot. We also really need the officials to allow the secondary to be physical. If we have a crew like last week, then it could get ugly fast.
In any event, I want the Illini squad to bring better execution that we have seen the last two weeks, even if it ends in a loss.
Agree ! This old Illini loves the O & B and loves his Michigan Wolverine daughter ! But ... let's ruin their season !
I have been to Ann Arbor twice.
In 1993, my senior year at Illinois we drove up to AA to watch us stun Michigan at home for the first time since 1966. Due to unbalanced big 10 scheduling, Michigan only came to Champaign once during my 4 years so we decided to make the road trip. It was a crazy unexpected win during an otherwise disappointing season.
In 2001, my wife and I attended the Michigan-Illinois game. It was our only regular season loss that year. However, we did win the Big 10.
This year, I return to Ann Arbor with my wife and youngest daughter to see my oldest daughter who is a sophomore and member of the Marching Illini preform in the halftime show. I could not be any more proud.
Go Illini!
In 1993, my senior year at Illinois we drove up to AA to watch us stun Michigan at home for the first time since 1966. Due to unbalanced big 10 scheduling, Michigan only came to Champaign once during my 4 years so we decided to make the road trip. It was a crazy unexpected win during an otherwise disappointing season.
In 2001, my wife and I attended the Michigan-Illinois game. It was our only regular season loss that year. However, we did win the Big 10.
This year, I return to Ann Arbor with my wife and youngest daughter to see my oldest daughter who is a sophomore and member of the Marching Illini preform in the halftime show. I could not be any more proud.
Go Illini!
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
Are you concerned Walters may get a better offer this off-season, or something else?
In my opinion, it sucks to lose a good coordinator to a better job, but it also means that our coaching staff is viewed well and that helps attract other talent. I'd hate to lose Walters, but I have faith that BB can reload his staff as well as or better than his roster.
DeonThomas
- South Carolina
Certainly sounds like you're the man we need in Ann Arbor this weekend!!!
- Status